Slim PS3 Announced - $299 (120GB): Impact on Blu-ray Hardware Software Sales?

[Kosty]

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Slim PS3 Officially Announced

Posted August 18, 2009 01:37 PM by Juan Calonge

To quote Chazz Palminteri on 'The Usual Suspects': "a rumor's not a rumor that doesn't die." Today at the gamescom conference in Cologne, Germany, SCEI chief Kaz Hirai officially announced the Slim PS3, available in stores from the first week of September. Price will be $299 in the US, €299 in Europe, and ¥29,980 in Japan.







Features will be the same as existing models. It'll include a 120GB hard drive. It will be 32 percent smaller and 36 percent lighter - and use 34 percent less power!




Kaz Hirai showing the slim PS3 (photo PerezStart)

http://www.blu-ray.com/news/?id=3284

SCEE Gamescom Conference Blu-ray Summary

Posted August 18, 2009 12:35 PM by Juan Calonge

Kicking off the gamescom conference in Cologne, Sony Computer Entertainment Europe is holding a much-hyped press conference. Even though we are not there, we are looking closely at all the sources reporting from the floor. Of course, lots of it won't be relevant to our site, so here you will find only Blu-ray-related stuff.

According to SCEE president Andrew House, 23.7 million PS3s have been sold globally - 10 million of them in SCEE territories.

Firmare 3.0 for the PS3 has been announced, with animated themes, a "What's New" section and other interface changes.

The video download service will be available in PAL territories from November. It'll begin with films to rent and buy, but will later expand to "local content" (TV).

Kaz Hirai saved the big news for the end and announced the launch of the Slim PS3, available in the first week of September. Price will be $299 in the US, €299 in Europe, and ¥29.980 in Japan. It'll have the same features and function, with a 120GB hard drive. It'll be 33 percent smaller, and 36 percent lighter.

[A_Gorilla]

Holy $%&*!

[A_Gorilla]

But seriously, I dont like the look, kind cheap looking, and I miss the gloss (even though it was annoying as hell to keep clean). Meh I'm fine with my PS2 compatible 80 gig thank you very much

[Kosty]

http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/2009...-PlayStat.html

Sony Cuts Price of PlayStation 3 by $100


By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Published: August 18, 2009
Filed at 2:29 p.m. ET

NEW YORK (AP) -- After months of rumors and anticipation, Sony (NYSE:SNE) says it's slashing the price of the PlayStation 3 by $100 to $299.

Sony Corp. said Tuesday it will cut the price of the currently available 80 gigabyte PlayStation 3 effective immediately. It is also launching a slimmer, lighter model in early September that will also cost $299.

Sales of the PlayStation 3, which launched in 2006, have fallen behind its rivals. Video game software makers hope Sony's price cut will boost game sales ahead of the holidays. So far this year, the industry has seen as slump because of the recession and weak game release schedules.

Jack Tretton, president and CEO of Sony Computer Entertainment of America, says there is no question the consumer reaction to the cuts will be "phenomenal.

[A_Gorilla]

Expect MS to answer right back with $50-$100 price cut within the week...

Oh and to pre-empty Gizmo "PS3 IS STILL IN LAST PLACE!" "NO PRICE CUT WILL MAKE A DIFFERENCE!" "360 KICKS ASS!" "BD STILL SUCKS!"

There I think I got everything covered...

[furriballs]

Hey, good news for someone looking for a machine that will play BDs and games. Not my cup of tea, but at least it's out there.

Countdown to the usual trolls (minus one ) pooh poohing all over the thread in 3 . . 2 . . 1

[wormraper]

[bfellow]

Hahaha CEO Howard Stringer should eat his words now.

[GizmoDVD]

Originally Posted by A_Gorilla

Expect MS to answer right back with $50-$100 price cut within the week...

Oh and to pre-empty Gizmo "PS3 IS STILL IN LAST PLACE!" "NO PRICE CUT WILL MAKE A DIFFERENCE!" "360 KICKS ASS!" "BD STILL SUCKS!"

There I think I got everything covered...

You are totally hung up on me.

[A_Gorilla]

Originally Posted by GizmoDVD

You are totally hung up on me.

...Are you asking me out? Cause I don't do that, sorry...

[GizmoDVD]

Originally Posted by A_Gorilla

...Are you asking me out? Cause I don't do that, sorry...

Sure....

Anyway, with BD SA players already $299 or less I don't see this making much of a dent. It'll spur some of the 'gamer' movie sales (Iron Man, Transformers) but won't do much to the catalog titles.

[HD Goofnut]

So what exactly is missing from this slim model that was included in preceding PS3 models?

[A_Gorilla]

Originally Posted by HD Goofnut

So what exactly is missing from this slim model that was included in preceding PS3 models?

Doesnt look like it has the card readers, and probably only has 2 USB ports...

[GizmoDVD]

Originally Posted by HD Goofnut

So what exactly is missing from this slim model that was included in preceding PS3 models?

Nothing. Its just the 120GB model slimmed down.

[Rich86]

If the PS3 "lite" does everything the older model does, and includes a 120GB hard drive, and uses 34% less power (which should also reduce heat generation and noise) why doesn't it just replace the older model? Maybe the $100 price cut on the older one is to clear them out of inventory and distribution channels?
As someone else said - it's a good announcement for those interested in game consoles. How it impacts standalone blu-ray player sales, if at all, remains to be seen? I still prefer my S550 for under $200 over a PS3, but if I was interested in a gaming device, the "lite" version would surely warrant a look.